Demon - Poem by Anne Sexton

A young man is afraid of his demon and puts his handover the demon's mouth sometimes...- D. H. Lawrence

I mentioned my demon to a friendand the friend swam in oil and came forth to megreasy and crypticand said, 'I'm thinking of taking him out of hock.I pawned him years ago.'

Who would buy? The pawned demon, Yellowing with forgetfulnessand hand at his throat? Take him out of hock, my friend, but beware of the griefthat will fly into your mouth like a bird.

My demon, too often undressed, too often a crucifix I bring forth, too often a dead daisy I give water totoo often the child I give birth toand then abort, nameless, nameless...earthless.

Oh demon within, I am afraid and seldom put my hand upto my mouth and stitch it upcovering you, smothering youfrom the public voyeury eyesof my typewriter keys.If I should pawn you, what bullion would they give for you, what pennies, swimming in their copper kisseswhat bird on its way to perishing?

No.No.I accept you, you come with the dead who people my dreams, who walk all over my desk(as in Mother, cancer blossoming on herBest & Co. tits-waltzing with her tissue paper ghost) the dead, who give sweets to the diabetic in me, who give bolts to the seizure of rosesthat sometimes fly in and out of me.Yes.Yes.I accept you, demon.I will not cover your mouth.If it be man I love, apple laden and foulor if it be woman I love, sick unto her bloodand its sugary gasses and tumbling branches.

Demon come forth, even if it be God I call forthstanding like a carrion, wanting to eat me, starting at the lips and tongue.And me wanting to glide into His spoils, I take bread and wine, and the demon farts and giggles, at my letting God out of my mouthanonymous womanat the anonymous altar.

I accept you, demon.
I will not cover your mouth.
If it be man I love............................................................... raining elsewhere, yet draught never relieves the Globe totally. Nice post. Thanks.(Report)Reply